Health insurance cards

You will be issued "a health insurance card" as proof of insurance when you join the Health Insurance Society.

TIPS
  • Do not forget to show your health insurance card at the reception counter of the hospital when visiting for medical care.
  • Promptly notify the Health Insurance Society if you lose your health insurance card or there is any change in the information indicated on the card.

Showing your health insurance card at the counter of the hospital when seeing a doctor gives you access to the required medical care while paying only a portion of the associated costs.

Handling of health insurance cards

Altering/Defacing the health insurance card itself to change any of the information shown there (other than the address space) or transferring or loaning the card to another person is prohibited. Store your health insurance card carefully; it is an important form of personal identification. Remember to bring it back with you after visiting the hospital.

Promptly notify the Health Insurance Society if you lose your health insurance card or there is any change in the information shown on the card.

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Indicating whether you intend to be an organ donor

As a result of amendment of the Law on Organ Transplantation, a space for indicating whether you wish to be an organ donor has been added to the reverse side of the health insurance card. See the website of the Japan Organ Transplant Network for more information on organ donation.

Members aged 70 or above are issued "elderly benefits cards"

Since the percentage of medical care costs paid by elderly persons aged 70-74 to medical care institutions varies with income, these persons are issued "elderly benefits cards" showing their copayment percentages. When receiving medical care at a medical care institution, show your "elderly benefits card" together with your health insurance card. (In general, presenting an elderly benefits card will ensure that the amount you pay at a hospital will not exceed the cost-sharing maximum amount. In certain cases, you may also need to present a Certificate of Application of Maximum Copayment Amount.)

If your copayment percentage changes, you will be issued a new elderly benefits card to reflect this change.

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Caution:

Those in the category of same income level as active workers Ⅰ or Ⅱ must submit a Certificate of Application of Maximum Copayment Amount if they wish to pay no more than their maximum copayment amount at the hospital.
If you expect to incur high medical care costs, apply to the Society to obtain a certificate in advance.

Using your Individual Number Card as your health insurance card

The online eligibility verification system introduced in March 2021 makes it possible to verify eligibility information online based on the IC chip on the Individual Number Card or the health insurance card code and number. This system became fully operational on October 20, 2021. You can use your Individual Number Card as a health insurance card at medical care institutions and other facilities that have adopted the online eligibility verification system. (Requires advance registration on Mynaportal etc.)
See here for more information.

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Caution:

When using your Individual Number Card as your health insurance card for the first time or if you have just been issued with a new health insurance card due to re-employment or for other reason, it is advisable to bring your health insurance card together with your Individual Number Card to a hospital just to be certain.

The online eligibility verification system brings some changes to health insurance cards

Health insurance card codes and numbers, which are currently assigned on a per-household basis, will change to a per-individual basis. Each card will have a two-digit branch number to allow identification of specific persons.
All new health insurance cards issued from April 2021 will show a branch number in addition to the code and number. Note that current health insurance cards without a branch number will still be accepted.

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